http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2028-31,%20Psalm%2018&version=NIV
Saul, Samuel, and the witch of Endor. In chapters 28 to 31 of 1 Samuel we see the end of the life of Saul.
Samuel has died and the Philistines are preparing to attack the Israelites once again. Saul asks the Lord for help. The Lord is silent. So, Saul takes matters into his own hands.
In chapter 28, Saul decides to go and see a medium or spiritist. We know from out study of Leviticus and Deuteronomy that spiritists and mediums were strictly forbidden. (See Leviticus 20:6 and Deuteronomy 18:10-14.) In fact, in verse 9 of chapter 28 we see that Saul has cut off the spiritists and mediums of the land. Now, he is going against his own previous obedience to God to direct disobedience.
And his disobedience is so great. Look at verse 10. Saul swears by the Lord that she will not be punished for what she is about to do. To swear by the Lord when you are going to do a sinful act? This is what sin does to us. It causes us to not think clearly. We then see that Samuel is brought up. Saul asks Samuel what he should do. Samuel tells him that the Lord is going to hand Israel and him over to the Philistines the next day. This prophecy was fulfilled and Saul and his sons were killed the next day in battle.
To many this is a strange story in the Bible. Witches and a spirit being brought up. But the main point of this story is to give us an example of what can happen to us when we are disobedient to God.
Saul offered sacrifices up in chapter 13 when he should have waited for Samuel. He did not kill all of the Amalekites as God commanded him to do so in chapter 15 but saved some.
In 1 Samuel 15:23 Samuel writes:
" For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
You know we too can fall away from the Lord. Not in losing our salvation but when we are disobedient to God we can lose the joy of our salvation and even the assurance of our salvation. When that happens, it is hard for us to bear little or any fruit for God's kingdom.
Obedience is such a vital part of living a faithful Christian life.
Romans 6:16 says,
"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (ESV)
You know I am so glad that by the grace of God he has chosen me to be a part of His kingdom. I am sure all of you are as well. A lot of people think grace does not include obedience. That obedience is legalism. That is such a false and incorrect view of God's grace!!!
Some of my favorite verses that deal with obedience and grace come from the book of Titus.
Titus 2:111-12 says,
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"
The ESV Study Bible note on these verses has it right when it reads,
"Christians should live this way because (“for”) the grace of God that saves also instructs its recipients to live in a new way. One cannot truly claim to be a recipient of saving grace without also being a pupil of “training grace.” This change in lifestyle is rooted in the atonement (v.14) and the expectation of Christ's return (v.13)"
Saving grace and training grace. I like that. Pray to God today that His Grace would enable you to live a pleasing and obedient life for Him.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You mentioned Saul’s lack of obedience and how it cost him the kingdom. What Saul did back in chapter 15 is what I call, “The Best of the Flesh”. Saul was willing to give the bad things to the Lord but he wasn’t willing to give the “good” things to the Lord. What happened to Saul is a real trap for us too. Most of us are willing to bring to the Lord our flaws, our sins and the weak things about us. We’ll gladly submit them to Christ but are will willing to submit the good things about us: our talents, our gifts, our strengths? If we don’t we’ll end up living this life in the best of the flesh and in the power of our strength and wisdom.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned this verse which Samuel spoke to Saul back in Chapter 15, “For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft…” Interesting to see how Saul’s rebellion ended up leading him right into witchcraft with the witch of Endor.
Chapter 30 is one of my favorite chapters. The ashes of Ziklag .. oh how I’ve been there. David’s life is in ashes. He is running for his life, his family has been captured by the enemy and now his own men want to kill him. Could it get any worse? Yet in the ashes of his life, David encourages himself in the Lord.
ReplyDeleteLittle did he know, this low point of his life was just before the great exaltation as King of Israel. Within days, David will be reigning as King of Israel.
I’ve seen this pattern over and over. At our darkest hour comes the victory. At our lowest point comes the intervention of God. When things seem hopeless, the tide turns in our favor.
Thank God we don’t stay in ashes of Ziklag!
6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
Good stuff Russ!!
ReplyDeleteRomans 6:22 sets up my favorite of all verses--->Dove-tailed with obedience and the right kind of slavery--->Romans 6:22-->But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
6:23---> For the wages of sin is death, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
Peace and love!!!